Items Tagged: Ben Franklin

One Hundredth Birthday For Benjamin Franklin Parkway Will Be Big

Philadelphia’s cultural powerhouse and preeminent boulevard, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway begins its 100th birthday celebration September 8, 2017. Parkway 100 is the city’s 14-month celebration taking place both inside the venerable institutions that line the thoroughfare and outside among its fountains, gardens and public art. It ends November 16, 2018.

The diagonal Benjamin Franklin Parkway stretches one mile from near City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the edge of Fairmount Park. Planner Paul Philippe Cret and designer Jacques Gréber modeled the thoroughfare after the Champs-Élysées of their native country. After a long, drawn-out planning and construction

World's Only Benjamin Franklin Museum To Open In Philadelphia On August 24

When the new Benjamin Franklin Museum opens in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 24, visitors can delve into all aspects of Franklin’s life, from his role as statesman and diplomat to his life as a private citizen, inventor, philosopher and more. Built next to the site where Franklin actually lived in the mid 1700s, the underground museum was originally built for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. Now, after undergoing a major transformation, the revitalized site will feature personal artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to the life, times and legacy of this extraordinary

Benjamin Franklin Museum

The Benjamin Franklin Museum in Independence National Historical Park is re-opening to the public after a two year renovation project. Visitors are invited to Museum Preview Days, August 24 through September 19. The Grand Opening for the museum will be September 20, following a reception on September 19 organized by the Friends of Independence National Historical Park.

Dedicated to the life, times and legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the revitalized features personal artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays exploring Franklin’s life and character. Visitors of all ages will be able to immerse

Oldest artifact: Mastodon tooth fossil – Fossilized stone / Independence National Historical Park / This tooth, found at Franklin Court in 1959, likely was among a group of fossils sent to Franklin in London in 1767. Franklin found the fossils “extremely curious.” Discovered near the Ohio River, they came from a mastodon, an ancient, elephant-like creature.

Walking In Franklin's Philadelphia Footsteps

TRANSPORTATION: By foot in Historic District, by taxi or Septa for locations beyond

TIME: Three days, two nights

SUMMARY: Featured on visitphilly.com/itineraries, this exploration beckons visitors to follow Benjamin Franklin through the streets of his adopted city, where he invented many institutions and products still in use today and where later generations have created many attractions that honor his legacy. The itinerary starts at the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum, full of Franklin’s possessions, inventions and interactive games to help visitors better understand one of history’s most prolific men.

Fact Sheet: Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia Legacy

Benjamin Franklin’s presence is everywhere in Philadelphia. Here’s a look at some of the many places visited by, founded by and for, inspired by or named for the city’s most famous citizen, including the new Benjamin Franklin Museum, a National Park Service site that honors the Founding Father’s life and legacy.

Founded To Honor Franklin:

Benjamin Franklin Museum – The life of Benjamin Franklin will once again hold court in Franklin Court, where the underground museum reopens in August 2013 after a two-year renovation. The revamped museum features artifacts and interactive exhibitions that chronicle the inventor’s life as a

Fact Sheet: Benjamin Franklin Inventions

Inventor. Diplomat. Scientist. Entrepreneur. Catalyst. Benjamin Franklin was quite a busy man. In his 84 years, he invented, discovered and improved many of the devices and civic institutions that people rely on today. Here’s a look:

He invented:

Swim fins (1717)

Franklin/Pennsylvania stove (1741)

Lightning rod (1750)

Flexible catheter (1752)

24-hour, three-wheel clock that was much simpler than other designs of the day (1757)

Archived Releases

Philadelphia Celebrates Ben Franklin's 308th Birthday

Ben Franklin is still quite the celebrity and his upcoming 308th birthday on January 17, 2014 is cause for many celebrations in his longtime home of Philadelphia. Free admission to new Benjamin Franklin Museum, a Franklin-themed getaway giveaway, birthday parties and appearances by Ben himself are among the festivities to honor America’s favorite Founding Father.

Here’s a look at how Philadelphia will mark Ben’s big day:

Fun & Free: Facebook Contest & Museum Admission:

In honor of the frugal Founding Father’s birthday, Visit Philadelphia™ is providing free admission for up to 1,250 visitors to the new Benjamin Franklin